Safe and stable housing

We know that family violence is the major reason for women seeking assistance from homelessness support services and that family violence is a growing cause of homelessness among young people.

Since the Royal Commission Report was handed down, we have announced and began the rollout of over $2.7 billion in housing and homelessness support. This includes $152 million Family Violence Housing Blitz which has already delivered more than 300 additional accommodation places for family violence victims.

additional help for 19,000 people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness

renovation of rooming houses.

Building on these significant housing and homelessness investments, we are also investing a further $133.2 million through this Rolling Action Plan to continue reforming crisis accommodation and long-term housing options for people escaping family violence. This includes a further $50 million to increase the long-term housing options available to households impacted by family violence. This investment will deliver:

We are delivering increased and improved family violence and youth refuges that will provide better outcomes for women, families and young people fleeing family violence.

There are currently 31 family violence refuges in Victoria. Of these, 18 are the old communal refuge model. As part of the initial $152 million Family Violence Housing Blitz, the government committed $15 million to begin phasing out communal refuges and move towards the ‘core and cluster’ model, ensuring that refuge accommodation:

promotes safety

is accessible to people with disabilities

provides private units

enables connections with the community, work and school.

Through this initial investment, 4 communal refuges will be redeveloped, with all 4 expected to be built and occupied by June 2018.

In addition to the initial investment in 2016-17, the government will now work closely with family violence refuge providers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to:

upgrade the remaining family violence refuges into independent ‘cluster style’ accommodation, phasing out completely the communal refuge model by 31 December 2020

build two new Aboriginal family violence refuges

provide extra support for women with no income.

Building on the initial $152 million Family Violence Housing Blitz, additional funding is also being provided for 2 new youth refuges.